Hiding in
the back of my cage, I sat quivering while watching the huge beast enter and
then grab one, and occasionally two, of my siblings and then they vanish. The
monsters slip in, and slide back out, leaving before I can whimper a goodbye to
my brothers. My family was being picked apart by these monsters as the day
passed. I was the lucky one, the last one remaining. Our cage was cold and the
stench left was the only thing left of my brothers and sisters. I'm the last of
my family, only thing left are the memories. Hiding behind the remaining parts
of our flattened bed, I shook and moaned. My brother Billy had spent hours
tearing and pulling the stuffing out of this bed. Now I curl up behind it so
frightened my bones hurt.
Feeling
weaker every passing day, I had no appetite and felt no energy to move
for a drink of water. Sleeping occupied my day and night, however I couldn’t
tell day from night. There wasn't a window to see the light, just a bulb
dangling from the ceiling above. My cage door opened and closed often,
interrupting sleep, but no one entered except for the occasional food and water
being tossed in clanking to the floor.
Mourning
the loss of my family, missing them with my whole heart, I slept. Dreaming of
the tug-a-war that I played with my siblings, the fights we would have over
food, and when we slept we piled high on this single unstuffed square pillow
thing. We didn't have much, but we had each other. My brother Ted ate most the
food, a meal or two was missed because of him, but I sit here now aching for
Ted.
The
rattling of the door opening was followed by soft voices, two strangers
entering my cage and sat. Without opening my eyes I knew they were monsters, I
acted as if I were sleeping, but couldn't stop my body from stiffening. My hair
on my back stood straight up and I forced myself to be brave and open my eyes.
Two sets
of eyes were staring at me. The humans seem to whisper to one another as they
sat looking at me. My eyes slowly focused on the two, they didn't seem to be
monsters at all. One girl, one boy, sat smiling at me. I stood slowly and
walked slower towards them hoping for a better smell, as I wondered why they
decided to come here and invade my cage.
My
nostrils flared trying to sort the strange new smells. The closer I inched my
way, the smells got stronger. She had something very yummy in her fingers, she
called it a treat. The boy had a new ball on a rope toy, like the one I played
with Ted, but this one was new and wasn't shredded and the ball wasn't bald and
broken. When they lifted their hands I crawled backwards and ran to my hiding
place. Never taking my eyes off of them, scared they might capture me and take
me out to the monsters that lived outside. The most curious thing was, these
two intruders smelt like heaven to me.
The
strangers left and I curled up for my nap. The floor seemed colder and harder
than usual. I closed my eyes but my mind kept running with thoughts of these
strangers that entered my cage. The girls smile was warm, friendly and her
smell was what I imagined mothers would be. I don't remember my mother, but
when I dreamt of a tender touch and wonderful smells I felt it was mother. The
boy smelt of the earth, I bet he plays outside with friends and even chases
balls. What were they doing in my cage? Were they thinking of taking me to the
monsters outside?
The days
and nights got longer and the cage got colder. What is my purpose, why am I
here? Where did my family go, as I cried and howled to the light up above?
The cage
door creaked open, making my body sit, my hair raised as I backed away slowly
from the opening door. Two sets of blue eyes smiling down on me. Gentle, kind
as they moved slowly to sit on my floor. It's the boy and the girl from days
before. I can smell them; I can taste the treat with only the memory. The boy
holds the same toy and this time offers it to me. I sniff and my whole body
gives in to their kindness, to their light and warmth they bring into my dark
cold life. I grab the toy with my teeth, whipping it left and right, then chase
it, I'm so dizzy, and I sit. They laugh; I halt and look at them tilting my
head from side to side. Fright, then flight is what the old me would have done,
but this laughter was pure and welcoming. So, with the toy in my mouth, I
pranced over to them letting them rub their paws all over me. It felt good, it
smelt wonderful and an instant joy rang throughout my body. We played for hours
before they left, and I cried howling to the ceiling and whimpering off to my
cold corner.
Suddenly
the door sprang open. The same boy and the girl walked back in placed a collar
around my neck and he lifted me into his arms. I wasn't scared for the first
time, my hair didn't stand up on my back and I was shaking but it wasn't fear.
I was shaking with excitement! My body wiggled as they giggled. We walked out
into the light of the bright ball, they call the sun, and with their arms
around me I could tell I found my new family.
